The Jewish Community Federation of Richmond is pleased to welcome Avi Remetz to our professional team as our new NextGen Leadership and Engagement Manager. Avi has begun the process of introducing himself to the broader community. This included a successful Young Adult Happy Hour recently with over 50 participants.
Federation CEO Daniel Staffenberg noted, “Avi’s background with Jewish Federations and commitment to excellence makes him a valuable addition to our organization. We look forward to working with him and leveraging his expertise to better serve our community.”
Avi noted, “I am extremely passionate about Jewish programming and excited to join the Federation here to engage the NextGen-age group in various programs and events. The community is extremely welcoming here, and I want to help add the sense of community to the younger generation. I have already witnessed a desire by those I am meeting with to come for more events, build cohorts and be more involved in the Jewish community.”
With an undergraduate degree in Jewish Studies and graduate degree in Jewish Education, he comes to Richmond with 10-years’ experience with Jewish youth that includes education, guidance, programs, event planning, fundraising and more. He most recently was with the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest New Jersey as Manager of Jewish Service Learning. While there since 2018, in part, he oversaw and coordinated multiple Jewish teen philanthropy and volunteer groups, programs and events for a large five-county area.
His interest in Jewish programming began when he was a member of a USY youth group in high school where he served as a Chapter Board member and next a Regional Board member.
“In college,” he said, “as a Jewish Studies major, my goal was to work as a Jewish professional in the youth group movement and be able to create the fun and fulfilling programs that I enjoyed.”
Avi noted, “At MetroWest, it was extremely fulfilling work to learn how a Federation enhances the local Jewish community, but also working with teens doing volunteer and philanthropy work. This was something I was already passionate about in my own life – volunteering and helping others. In many ways, it made it seem not like much work.”
He is extremely proud of leading a special fundraising drive at MetroWest that raised an additional $16,000 for specific teen philanthropy programming as part of that Federation’s Centennial Celebration. This fund and programs empower teen to allocate amounts of their choosing to support local and overseas Jewish non-profits. “This special campaign reached past teens and their family members to donate with a match from a local community donor. This was the largest amount ever raised for this fund.”
He grew up in Allentown, Pa., and holds a B.A. degree from Temple University, and a Master’s from Gratz College. In addition, he was a MASA Teaching Fellow teaching English for one year to Israeli 4th-6th graders in Ashdod, Israel.
In deciding to move to Richmond with a new career opportunity, Avi shared.
